Eyes Open

Author:BennieRating: PG
Disclaimer: I own nothing Roswell.
Character Focus: Liz/Tess
Spoilers: Max in the City
Author's Note: Someone asked how I thought Liz and Tess could become
friends. This seemed like one semi-plausible possibility. This is Part 1 of the planned 4-part "Open" Series.

Okay, honey, you have the number to our hotel, right? And Sheriff Valenti
promised to check in often, and 

Liz interrupted her dad with a grin. Dad! I´ll be fine! You´re only going
to be gone for the weekend, and I´ve managed´ before!

Jeff Parker stopped for a moment to hug his daughter. I know you will,
honey. I just worry, that´s all.

She hugged him back. I´ll be okay, really. And if it makes you feel any
better, I´ll get Michael to stay while I close up, okay?

They both turned as Nancy Parker came down the stairs, a list in one hand
and a rather large suitcase in the other. Liz and Jeff smiled at her
preoccupied expression, and she looked up in surprise as Jeff took the
suitcase out of her hand and Liz hugged her.

´Bye Mom. Have a good trip.

Nancy affectionately pushed a strand of Liz´s hair back behind one ear. See
you in a couple days, honey.

Liz waved her parents off from the back door and went to get the keys to
open the diner for the day. As she walked through the employees´ only room,
she heard someone rapping on the front door.

Tess rolled her eyes, exasperated. About Ava! I want to know about Ava.

Liz thought about it, and then turned and sat at a table. Tess hesitated for
a moment and then joined her.

What do you want to know? Liz asked awkwardly.

Tess hesitated. Michael and Isabel tell me you two became friendly
while Max and I were in New York.

Friends, Tess Liz corrected her. We´re friends.

Tess studied the human across the table from her carefully. Why?

Liz let her surprise show. Why not? She was beginning to feel a little
angry.

Because because she´s me.

No, she´s not, and Liz saw a flicker of hurt pass over Tess´s face at the
bluntness of her answer. Her momentary anger subsiding, she struggled to
explain herself better.

I mean, she´s nice, you know? She stayed with me when she didn´t have
anywhere else to go, and then she helped me  uh, *us *  save Max.

I get that, Tess said. But how did you become friends?

Liz was still unsure about what Tess was after. Well, we talked a lot when
she was here, because she had trouble sleeping. And, I don´t know, but we
just hit it off.

Tess looked away. You just hit it off? she echoed softly, and Liz tried to
think of what she could have said to make her so upset.

Not that she didn´t still hate the blonde boyfriend-stealing bitch, she
reminded herself quickly, silently reciting the now-familiar mantra that
always made her feel better. Except that right now, it wasn´t doing a very
good job. Because despite her best  or worst  instincts, she could see
that Tess was upset. Sad, even. And for some reason, it seemed to be Liz´s
fault, which didn´t sit well in the pit of her stomach.

Would you like something for breakfast? she asked suddenly, desperately
wanting to change the subject. Michael isn´t in yet, so there´s nothing hot
ready, but you could have something cold, or make something yourself, you
know, use a little alien voodoo  and she waved her hand about
suggestively.

Tess smiled at her lame joke, and she stared in wonder. She had never really
seen Tess smile before, Liz realized, and shelved that thought away for
later.

Sure, Tess said, to the surprise of both girls, and Liz led her into the
back. After showing her to the fridge, she hopped up onto the counter to
keep an eye out for either customers or a cook  who was now five minutes
late.

She watched as Tess pulled out some eggs and vegetables and proceeded to
make a light, fluffy gourmet omelette in about thirty seconds flat.
Without messing up the kitchen.

You have *got* to teach that to Michael, she said enviously.

Teach what? Michael asked from the doorway, and both girls chuckled.

How to make an omelette that looks good enough to actually eat, Liz
quipped, but Michael just smirked and started organizing the kitchen the way
he liked. It drove him nuts how Jose just shoved everything into drawers.

Catching Tess´s attention, Liz nodded her head in the direction of the
restaurant and the two of them returned to their previous seats.

For a minute she just watched as Tess ate, enthralled by the mouth-watering
aroma. She hadn´t been kidding; it did look good.

Want some? Tess offered, and Liz blushed, realizing how obvious she was
being. But she really did, so she grabbed a clean fork and aimed for Tess´s
plate.

Then she froze, fork mid-air. You sure? she asked uncertainly. For a
moment there, she´d forgotten that they were enemies. *Rivals, technically*
her rational mind corrected itself. And not even that really, because it
wasn´t Tess who came between her and Max, but an alien Destiny that no one
had had any say about. And it wasn't an issue anymore anyways.

Then Tess nodded, and Liz quickly speared a section of egg before she could
obsess over it any further. Placing the savoury morsel in her mouth, she
relished the smooth texture and perfect balance of flavour, leaning back in
her seat with closed eyes to chew and swallow in ecstasy.

Oh my god, she moaned, and opened her eyes to find Tess watching her in
amusement. But somehow, it didn´t bother her. Right now, nothing could. She
was in heaven.

Good? the cook asked dryly.

Beyond good, Liz breathed. You, she accused, as though Tess had been
keeping some dark secret, are a culinary genius.

Tess just laughed. Oh yeah, I also do a mean buttered toast, she bantered,
and Liz pretended to swoon. Both girls laughed and then looked away from
each other self-consciously.

Then, Why did you really come here? Liz asked. Quietly, neutrally.

Tess looked at her seriously, and seemed to come to a decision. Breathing
deeply, she gazed straight into Liz´s eyes, and asked: Why can you be
friends with them  with Ava and Isabel  but not with me?

Taken aback, Liz just stared at her for a moment. Do you want to be
friends? she whispered disbelievingly. This had never even occurred to her.
She had assumed that the blonde girl had been lying, back when she first
came to Roswell.

What? Liz encouraged her, fascinated and not at all repelled as she
thought that maybe she should be.

I could use a friend, Tess said forthrightly, and then a tear did fall,
one shiny teardrop making it´s way down one smooth, pale cheek. A *girl*
friend. Someone who knows about and can talk about well, you know
everything.

Why me? I mean, what about Isabel and Maria? Liz asked curiously.

Tess just shook her head. I like Maria, or at least, I think I do. But
she´s really close with Max, and right now  she shrugged her shoulders.

Liz nodded. She understood exactly. It had been a bit of a shock to find out
how close Maria and Max had become over the summer. And while it didn´t
upset her, not really, at the same time she couldn´t help but wonder what
they talked about, or feel a little cautious about speaking to Maria about
him, even in confidence.

Tess considered the question. I think she will be. She´s really strong, you
know, and Liz nodded in agreement; she was. But right now, she can´t
concentrate on anyone except herself. And that´s okay, because she´s been
through a lot...

 but so have you, Liz finished thoughtfully. And for the first time she
looked, really looked, at Tess Harding.

Tess put down her fork and Liz watched her swallow with difficulty. Without
thinking, she reached out and held one cool, shaking hand in her own warm
grasp.

And in the kitchen, Michael almost dropped a pan as he put it away. He could
have sworn he just saw Liz Parker comforting a sobbing Tess Harding. Idly he
thought about intervening, or maybe joining them, or something for about
five seconds. Then, shaking his head, he tuned them out and started
arranging spatulas according to size.